An ex-One Direction dancer is dedicating herself to helping animals in memory of the pet dog who gave her the strength to walk again after a freak injury.

Gemma McKee faced life in a wheelchair when she broke both heels while performing in 2012.

But she says the bond she had with Great Dane Cesar helped her make a full recovery.And it was made all the more special when Cesar suffered complications with his own legs and had to use a wheeled harness to follow Gemma around.

But the 10st faithful dog, who even helped Gemma get through a broken marriage, had to be put down last year.

“It was quite sudden, almost like he’d been hanging on for me and putting all his energy into me,” says a heartbroken Gemma.

“As soon as he knew I was going to be OK, he let go.”

Now she’s given up dancing to foster homeless dogs and study veterinary science to become an animal physiotherapist.

She got Cesar as a puppy in 2011 after her widowed mum died of cancer. The same year she got her big break as a backing dancer on a 1D tour.

More details; https://www.paxexlive.com/thread/one-direction-dancer-quits-showbiz-after-snapping-both-heels-in-freak-accident